The Process:

The clip

Cotton shoddy

Poly shoddy

Blend

Spools

Finished Product

Recycled Yarn

Eco-friendly Sierra Club socks are made with RECOVER cotton blend yarns, which are made from 100% recycled fibers. We searched the world over for the finest source of recycled yarns, and found it when we discovered a Spanish company named Hilaturas Ferre-which has a satellite facility Hickory, N.C., just a short hop from Parker Legwear.

Here's the how and why of recycled yarn.

HOW:

It all begins with high-end clothes! During the clothing manufacturing process, patterns are cut out; the area of fabric that falls outside of the pattern lines, called "the clip," is usually sent to a landfill or incinerated. Instead of letting that happen, we gather the clip for reuse.

SortThe clip is gathered; these top quality, ring-spun cotton fabric scraps are then separated by color.

Cotton BreakdownThe scraps are sent through a garnetting machine and turned into a puffy fiber called cotton shoddy.

Poly BreakdownIn a new process, post-consumer PET beverage containers are turned into a 100% recycled polyester fiber called poly shoddy. A smidgen of this material provides the "skeleton" needed to keep the socks sock-shaped.

BlendIn a blow room, the two materials are mixed together in a precise ratio, formulated to net the ideal blend for the yarn that's being created.

Re-spinThe blended fibers are spun into yarns in different compositions and counts. After the laydown process, the yarns come out on spools, ready to be used.

KnitThis 100% recycled yarn is used to make Sierra Club socks… and the planet smiles.

WHY:

In keeping with the Sierra Club mission of protecting the planet, we use recycled and organic fibers because we believe it's the right thing to do. And we're not alone:

74% of consumers believe that they can actively help to combat climate change

79 % of consumers would buy from companies that are doing everything they can to reduce their impact on the environment

89% of consumers are planning to buy more ecologic products in the next 12 months